Search

UST Singers wowed the audience at the 28th Festival Internacional de Música de Cantonigròs in Spain. News and Photo by Nathaniel Sisma Villaluna

The University of Sto. Tomas Singers won the top prize in the Mixed Choir and Folk Song categories at the 28th Festival Internacional de Música de Cantonigròs in Spain held last Saturday. During the mini-concert held at the opening of the Festival, it was already clear that they would win as they received four standing ovations for their impressive performance.

Days before the said competition, the UST Singers were also proclaimed Choir of the World 2010 at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, the oldest choral competition in the world, held at Wales, UK.

Here’s a video featuring the UST Singers singing for the late Luciano Pavarotti at 1995 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod where they won the grand prize Choir of the World for the first time:

Matthew and Nathan, 11-year-old twins of Metrobank’s Vilma Grace dela Cruz. “Somos felices porque tenemos Nintendo, una familia; tenemos amigos y jugamos con ellos en el parque.” (We are happy because we have Nintendo, a family; we have friends and we play with them in the park)

As they say, many words in Tagalog are derived from Spanish. Well, not all Filipinos will agree to this especially to those who have just recently arrived in Spain and don’t have any idea of the Spanish language.

Here’s a proof to that…Some bloopers shared by a Filipina who worked as a household staff upon her arrival a year ago.

Magdalena

Señora calls and asks if she has to buy some magdalenas. Filipina tells her that she is not Magdalena. As it happens, Magdalena, from Bolivia is another staff that they have. So, Filipina hangs up the phone. Señora calls again and asks the same question. Filipina with an irritated voice tells her that she can give Magdalena’s phone number if she likes. Señora insisted on checking if they still have any magdalenas. Filipina is getting pissed because Señora is being such a pain in the neck calling her every now and then. She still has lot of work to do and has to finish before lunch time as it’s her afternoon off! Señora tries to explain or describe the magdalena but with no success. After 30 minutes Señora arrives and shows the magdalenas. Filipina realizes that magdalena being a name also means cupcake.

Filipina starts sneezing and coughing. She has slight fever and feels weak due to the cold weather. Señora is so worried as she has 2 young children. Señora hurriedly goes to the pharmacy to buy some medicine and gives them to her. She then tells Filipina to have some rest. The following day, Señora asks Filipina if she has taken the pill. Filipina turned tomato red and strongly denied..thinking…How can Señora ask me this? She knows that I’m married and have an 8-year-old daughter in the Philippines. Señora tells her that she has to take the pill. Filipina refuses and says: No Señora!…No!… Señora wants to insist again and one of her daughters comes running and explains something to her mother. Mama, in the Philippines they normally call it tablet, pill refers to contraceptive.

As you know, most Spanish people are being taught British English so it means British vocabulary.

Preservative in Spanish?

Señora wants to teach Filipina how to prepare some Spanish cuisine. As Señora is a health buff, all the ingredients must be fresh and organic. Señora is so eager in teaching Filipina how to make tortilla de patatas , lentejas ,crema de calabacin. After hours of preparation, Señora asks Filipina to taste them and asks her if she liked them. Filipina wants to impress Señora and says: ¡Muy Buena! (Really good). Well, Filipina has learned important words to impress her employer. The Spanish language is not that difficult to learn after all! Then Filipina adds: ¡Me gusta mucho porque no hay preservativos!

Translation: I like it very much because it doesn’t have any condom.

Preservative in Spanish is conservante.

Of course, Señora was so shocked upon hearing the phrase.

Puto is already a classic. A Spanish girl went to the Philippines and then one day she was awaken and was also shocked by someone selling puto early in the morning.